You would never guess it today, but Ted Leitner – whose voice has given life to San Diego sports teams for the last 35 years – used to be the kid who would skip school on days when he was scheduled to present oral reports.

Leitner just didn’t like speaking in public.

Then came his “ah-ha” moment. At age 16, Leitner attended a Ray Charles concert at Carnegie Hall and Charles’ manager, Joe Adams, closed out the event by announcing, “Ladies and gentlemen, you were entertained by the genius of Ray Charles.”

The power and dignity of Adams’ voice struck a chord with Leitner. At that moment, he thought, “I have to learn to do that.”

Leitner has gone on to do just that.

Ever since he arrived in San Diego in 1978, Leitner has become a staple in the local sports landscape. Even though he began his career in TV, he has made his reputation as a play-by-play announcer. He’s called games for the Chargers, the Padres and the Aztecs football and basketball teams.

At age 66, his smooth, sonorous baritone still dominates the airwaves year-round at Padres and Aztecs football and basketball games, and he plans to continue for as long as he’s physically able to do his job.

That storytelling flair, coupled with a quick wit, has served Leitner well over the years. He prides himself on being able to power through broadcasts without a script. Leitner’s calls are never written in advance, and he strives to be as authentic as possible.

“I’m not a screamer,” Leitner said. “I try to have as much enthusiasm in my voice for these teams without going nuts. I hate the ones that go nuts.”

The Aztecs’ football and basketball teams have recently found success. But Leitner has also had more than his fair share of losing seasons to contend with.

“I’ve had a lot of losing season with the Padres and Aztecs football,” Leitner said. “I tell Joe Castiglione (the radio announcer for the Boston Red Sox), ‘Anybody can do your games. Try the losing.

“When you have a history of not winning, you appreciate (the good times) so much more. This is the best time I’ve ever had, in the last 10 years, with the quality of all three – Aztecs football and basketball and the Padres.”

THE TED LEITNER FILE

Born: July 9, 1947 in Bronx, N.Y.

In San Diego: Ted Leitner has been the voice of San Diego sports for more than three decades. He has called Padres, Chargers and Aztecs football and basketball games. He was originally a TV sports reporter but has made his reputation on the airwaves. Leitner has had the opportunity to work in cities closer to his East Coast roots, but he says he's stayed in San Diego because watching the sports teams here struggle through tough times and find success has changed the way he views sports. "The winning makes people so happy and brings them together as a community," Leitner says.

Did you know: Leitner got his start calling high school football games in Oklahoma. He would record his play-by-play from the stands on Friday nights and play it back on Saturday morning on the radio.